Mamba Exploration begins drilling gravity REE target at Hyden
Venus Metals plans to undertake drilling at its priority REE targets at Marvel Loch East.
Mamba Exploration (ASX: M24) has begun a shallow drilling program at the recently identified gravity anomaly within its Hyden rare earth element project in Western Australia.
The program will involve aircore and reverse circulation drilling and total about 50 holes for 2,500m.
Mamba plans to use portable XRF (pXRF) to scan the drill core at each stage as the program progresses.
It will focus on the gravity anomaly, which was announced earlier this month.
Mamba managing director Mike Dunbar said the company’s modelling of the target indicates it could represent bedrock REE mineralisation.
“The 3D inversion modelling has identified an area which appears to be a late-stage intrusion which crosscuts the greenstone belt that runs north-south through the eastern portion of the target area,” Mr Dunbar explained.
“It is encouraging that historical data, while limited, has identified that parts of the intrusion contain significant phosphates and rare earth oxides, supporting our view that we have identified a bedrock REE target here at Hyden.”
REE present in historical samples
The current drilling program will initially be a shallow testing of the gravity target to assist with refining deeper drilling and confirming historical sampling results.
Historical sampling results up to 9,400 parts per million phosphorus, which when converted to an oxide equates to 2.15%.
Other minerals were also present, including up to 1,295ppm two rare earth oxides (lanthanum and cerium) plus yttrium.
Mamba’s own field visit to the target identified two outcrops.
Using pXRF to analyse the outcrops confirmed anomalous phosphates, yttrium, cerium and lanthanum.
Samples were collected and submitted for wet chemical analysis.
Clay-hosted REE
As well as bedrock-hosted REE, Mamba is believed prospective for clay-hosted REE.
In January, Mamba completed 23 aircore holes at the project’s clay-hosted REE target, which is 2.5km from the gravity anomaly.
Assays from drilling the clay-hosted target are anticipated early next week.
Hyden project
Including recent exploration licence applications, Hyden’s ground now totals 1,316sq km.
The project is within WA’s Hyden region.